Packaging machine



O. T. THOMPSON PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 l1 Sheets-Sheet mmf.

April 9, 1929.

April 9, 1929. o. T. THOMPSON PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 ll Sheets-SheefI www April 9, 1929- o. T. THOMPSON 1,708,686

- PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 11 sheets-sheet 3 April 9, 1929. o. T. THOMPSON 1,708,635

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 9, 1929. o. T. THOMPSON PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 9, 1927 Apll9, 1929 o. T. THOMPSON PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Ofcafffa/@sm Pl' 9, l929- o. T. THOMPSON y 1,708,686

A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 9, 1929. o. T. THOMPSON u PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 1l Sheets-Sheet B c fff 50/2 jg" sa V Mmfw April 9, 1929.

O. T. THOMPSON PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Shea?l 9 Filed April 9, 1927 April 9, 1929- o. T. THOMPSON 1,708,686

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 1l Sheets-Sheet l0 ma X06 April 9, 1929. v Q T, THOMPSON 1,708,686

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 .lulll 'Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED AsTATi-:s PATENT ori-icax OSCART. THOMPSON, OF NEENAH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOILBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10 INTERNATIONAL CELLUCOTTON PRODUCTS C0., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

Application filed .April 9, 1927. Serial No. 182,347. 'i

This invention relatesv to packaging ma Other objects and advantages of the invenchines and particularly to machines'for'packion will be understood by reference to the aging relatively-soft and compressible artifollowing specification and accompanying cles, such as sanitary napkins, in a suitable drawings in which I have illustrated a macarton or wrapper. chine embodying a selected form of the in- One of the objects of the invention isto provention and in which:

vide a machine of the above described class Fig. 1 1s a. side elevation of the machine which will be capable of receiving the artishowing the same connected tothe rear end cles to be packed successively one by one of a pad folding machine such as described from a source of supply such as a napkin in the above mentioned co-pending applica making machine, and to-arrange the napkins ti0n of Oscar T. Thompson.

so received in a compact stack and thereafter Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine as shown.

to insert the stack into a suitable carton. in Fig. -1, certain portions being omitted so Other objects of the invention are: to proas to facilitate illustration of certain other vide a machine suchas above described havparts. Y 1

ing means for automatically arranging apre- Y Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the right hand determined number `of articles to be packed, end of Figs. 1 and 2. in a stack; to provide means for compressing LFig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. the stack; to provide means for facilitating Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of stacking of the articles iatwise one on top Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale and certain of the other; to provide means for propelling parts being shown in section to facilitate dethe stack, after it is compressed, from the scription of the structure. machine and into a carton; to provide means Fig:v 6 is a detail elevation of a portion of for positioning the. carton with respect to F ig. 1 on a greatly enlarged scale, Y `the stack so that the carton Will be firmly Fig. 7 is a plan of the elements shown in held in position to receive the stack as it is Fig. 6 l -propelledfrom the machine, and to provide i Fig. Sis a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

means for continuously carrying on the pack- Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 5. ing operation without interruption during Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-1O of the compressing and ejecting operations. Fig. 1

Another object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 11 is a detail plan of a portion of Fig.

vide a packaging'machine of the class de- 2 on a greatly enlarged scale. scribed which is adapted tobe operated in Fig. 12 is a detail elevation of a portion of connection with a pad .making machine such Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

as described inthe co-pending application of Fig. 13 is a plan of the elements shown in vWilliam Bauer, Serial No. 687,012, and a pad Fig. 12. I y folding machine such as described in the co- Fig. 14 is a section on the line 1414 of pending applica-tion of. Oscar T. Thompson, Fig. 1. p Serial No. 148,322, and to operate therewith Fig. 15 is a detail elevation on'an enlarged 49 as a continuation of the operation of the said scale of certain mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

machines. whereby handling of the articles Fig. 16 is a section on the line lf3-L16 of is entirely dispensed with, and whereby .F ig. 15. cleanliness of the finished product is pro-Y Figs. 17 and 18 are plan and side views reinoted. speetively of carton holding mechanism Other objects of the invention are to proadapted to be attached tc the right hand end ride means whereby articles such as above of the machine as shown-in Fig. 1, parts of described may be packaged compactly, quickthis mechanism being shown in section to faly and neatly, and ingeneral, to provide an cilitate illustration and description thereof. improved machine of the class described. The operation of the present embodiment veyor kins fed thereby of my invention as disclosed in Figs. '1 and 2 will first be described briefly, in order to facilitate subsequent more detailed description and understanding thereof.

, The deliver'yend of a machine for making or folding napkins vis indicated aty20, and that machine may correspond to a machine described in the above mentioned copending applicationof OScarT. Thompson. The napkin`s are delivered from the delivery end to an intermediate or connecting conveyor 2 by which conveyorthey are delivered to a con- 22 which forms-a part of the packaging machine ofthe present invention. The conveyor 21 and the ,conveyor 22 may both conveniently be driven-by means of a sprocket chain 23 disposed about a sproch 24 which is secured to a driven shaft 25 on-tne napkin folding machine and about a sprocket 26 secured toa shaft 27 which is mounted on the frame 28 of the packaging machine. The chain 23 also engages a sprocket 29 whichisv secured to the shaft 30 on which shaft a suitp able roller is secured and over which roller 4the conveyor belt 21 passes. I have also found it desirable to provide a driven roll 31 adyacent the front end of the conveyor 21 for causing the napkin to lie fiat on the-conveyor 21 as it is delivered thereto.-

The napkins are carried upwardly by an inclined portion32 of the conveyor 22 and forwardly by. a horizontal portion 33, guiding means 32being provided for insuring proper positioning of the napkin on the conveyor as it begins its vhorizontaltravel. The horizontal portion 33 is effective ki'ns to a receptacle 34 having two compartments. The receptacle is mounted so as to be reci rocable crosswise of the length of the mac ine or of the direction of travel of the conveyor 22 and is so controlled that one o the compartments is in alignment'with the conveyor and capable 'of receiving the na'p.-

while the other compartment is out of alignment with the conveyor. The receptacle is moved to bring one of the compartments out of alignment with the conveyor when the compartment has received a supply* of napkinsand when the filled eompart' ment is `out of alignment, ber 36 is actuated to com ress the napkins in the compartment after w ich a plunger member 37 is caused to eject the compressed stack of napkins therefrom. Suitable means may he provided at the right hand end of the machine as shown in Fig. -1 ior positioning a carton or other receptacle for receiving the napkins as they are ejected from the machine.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be seen that the. conveyor 22 is guided upwardly from an initial roller 38 which'is fixed upon the shaft 27, by a roller 39 pivotally mounted on the upstanding portion` 40 of the frame indicated at 33,

28, and then horizontally, as and around a roller 41`which lby ` ing members 47 to deliver the-nap- P f bed plate 45. The receptacle initial roller 38. A bridge or'smoothing plate 43 extends crsswise over the inclined portion 32 of the conveyor 22 Jfor smoothing the napkins as they pass thereunder and for causing the napkins to adhere more closely l to the conveyor belt. The bridge 43 is supported suitable means such as leg members 44 on the frame 28.

A bed plate 45 is-xedly mounted lon a portion of the frame 28 and a. suitable supporting` leg 46 at its outer end. The bed plate 45 supports a cage structure comprising inner and outer upwardly respectively, which membersy are connected at their upper ends by means of spacer bars 49-49, which bars are spaced apart a disextending members 47 and 48 tance slightly greater than the width'of the napkins which are to b e packaged. The bed late 45 also supports pairs of upright guide posts 5050, which are connected at their upper ends by means of a bridge member 51 whereby the guide posts are maintained in parallelrelation.

. The inner faces of the spacer bars 49-49 and the inner aeesof the upwardly extendand 48 serve as guide means for positioningl the. napkins over the receptacle so that they will be in Aproper alignment therewith, whereby entrance of the napkins into the receptacle is facilitated.

A receptacle 52 comprising a pair of com? artments 53 and 54 is reciprocablymounted on the bed plate- 45, b means of rollers 55--55 which are secure to the bottom'of the receptacle and which are adapted to engage tracksor guideways 56-56 provided on the is controlled by means which will be hereinafter described, so that one of the compartments is in alignment with the conveyor 22 and therefore capable of receiving the napkins fed thereby, while the-other compartmentis disposed out ofl alignment with the conveyor as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 3, 9 and 10.

Napkins are propelled, as indicated in Fig. y

descent of the napkins, Lprefer to provide lil) means for positively positioning the napkins in a horizontal or atwise position before they actually enter the compartment thereunder. In the present instance, this means comprisesl a pair offrelatively narrow gate members 58-58 which extend substantially the entire length of the space between the spacer memthe gate membersare adapted to receive the napkins as they are fed thereto7 the roller 57 being rotated at speed by suitable means such as indicated in Fig. 5 whereby the napkins are fed across the entire length of the will lie flatwise thereon. A

Suitable means are provided for tripping or swinging the gates 58-58 about their pivotsso as to permit the napkin supported thereby to pass downwardly therebetween and into the compartment ofthe receptacle which is positioned thereunder. The side walls of the receptacle are apertured as indif cated at 53l and'54and the end walls as indicated at 53b and 54b so as to permit the air which is trapped inthe respective compartments beneath the tiatwise descending-napkin to escape from the compartment, thus facilitating the said liatwise descent of the napkin. '.[he inner and outer upright members 47 and 48 are provided with a-pertures as indicated at 47 a and 48aL respectively..y t In Figs. 3 `and 5 the apertures 4 and 48a register withth'e apertures -53b and 54` respectively, in the end'walls of the receptacle when the latter are in alignment with the conveyor. In the presentembodiment of my invention the above mentioned tripping means is controlled or 'actuated b the napkin on 4the horizontal portion 33o the conveyor 22, which suc'- ceeds the napkin already deposited on the gates 58-58. This cans comprises a detector member or linger 59 which is pivotally mounted in suitable brackets 60-60'on the framel portion 40. The detector member is normallyheld depressed at its outer en d, as indicated at 61 in Fig. 1, by; suitablemeans such as a spring 62 tensioned between aportion of the frame and an armA 63 which is connected to the pivot of the etector. The tension ofthe sprmg 62 is such thata napkin indicated at N in Fig. 5 fed by the conveyor 22 will be effective to raise thedetector member in the said figure. Such raising or swinging ofthe detector member 59 of course,

causes the arm 63 to swing correspondingly,

and a hook member 64 is pivotally connected thereto and is arranged to unseat a latch for.

clutching certain mechanism automatically as to effect the l'said swingto a driven shaft so 'ing of the gates f58-58.

The mechanism Which'is actuated through the agency of the said hook member 64 comprises a block 65 which is slidably mounted, preferably in a vertical direction in suitable guideways provided in a bracket member 68 which is mounted on the upper edge of the a relatively high rate of ,mounted at. 71 on a` bracket gates .5S-58, sothat they` l frame portion A40 as best shown in Fig. 7. -The block 65 is normally urged to move downwardly by means ofla tension spring 66 conf pin 67 projecting from nected atone end to a the frame bracket 69 and at its other end to a pin 68 projecting from its upper end. y he sliding block 65 is normally held in. its

.means of a latch member 70 which is pivotally 72 which is mounted on and extends side'wise from the block 65. The latchA 70 is provided at its lower end with a shoulder or seat 73 which engages a stop 74, which stop fixedly secured to'the bracket 68. A tension spring -7 5 connected at one end to a pin `7 6 projecting outwardly from the sliding block 65 and at its other-endto a pin 77 projecting outwardly from the latch member 70 is eliective Vto urge the latch member to swing about its pivot 71 towards the stop 74, the movement beinglimited by the extension 78 of the latch asclearly shown inFig. 6. It will now be readily .understood that when the detector Vmember 59 is elevated as shown in Fig. 5, the hook. member 64 will be pulled" to ,the left,

Figs. 1 and 6, whereby the latchmember. 7()

will be unseated from the stop 74 through engagement of the shoulder 79 on the hook member, and a rojecting pin 80 on vthe latch member 70. W

the block 65 adj acent raised or elevated position Y against the tension of the said spring 66 by ien the'latch is thusfunseatedV the tension spring will be permitted to` so\\a`s toprovide fingers 81 and 82 which shaft 84;` The shaft 84 is continuously drivenV by meansofachain 85 which engages a suit able sprocket on one end of the shaft 84 and a vsuitable sprocket on the corresponding end of the driven shaft 27. By inspection of F igs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the shaft 84 is the shaft on which the roller 41 is mounted, over which the conveyor 22 passes.' The clutch collar 83 is provided withagro'ove 86 having inclined shoulders 87 and 88 and the downwardly extending fingers 81and 82 are provided with suitablecam means for engaging the faces 87 and 88 so as to move the clutch collar 83 accordingly.' As shown in Fig. 4, t e 89 which is adapted to engage the cam lsurface 87 on the downwardmovement of the sliding block 65 so ,as to move the clutch collar outwardly or towards the left in Fig. 4. The said finger 82 is also provided with a cam member 90 which is adapted to engage the cam surface 88 of the clutch collar 83 on upward movement of the sliding block 65 to move the clutch collar inw'ardly or towards the right in Fig. 4. Means formoving the sliding block upwardly fromV the tension of the spring 66 will presently be described.

finger 82 is provided with a cam member Y lao .f necting rod The clutch collar 83 is connected. to and controls clutch mechanism which comprises a cage member 91 consisting ofv an outerhcupshaped portion 92 and an inner closuremember 93 which are rotatably mounted' onthe fits. snugly within and is secured which threadedly engages a suitable aperture disposed partly in the member 93 and partly in the member 92 Aas clearly shown in Fig. 8. It will be observedthat the two 93 yare connected so that they will necessarily rotate together. The said cage 91 consisting of the members 92 and 93 is also axially slidably mounted on the shaft 84 and is connected to the clutch collar 83 by means of a set screw 95 which threadedly engages a suitable aperture in the collar and engagesanannular extension 96 of the member 93. l Suitable antifriction bushings 97 and 98 are provided in the tubular vextension 96 of the member 93 and in the member 92 respectively.

A clutch plate 99 is .fixedly mounted within the cage 91 and on the shaft- 84 by means of a pin 100, and the inner face of the plate is provided with suitable frictions'material 101, which is adapted material 102 secured to the inner face 0f the member 93.- It will now be apparent that the member 99, being vfixed to the continuously rotated shaft 84 will be continuously rotated,

and the cage 91 is adapted to be therebyro tatcd when the cage is moved outwardly or to the left in Fig. 8 so as to bring the friction disks 101 and 102 into engagement.

The outer end of the member 92:'is provided with a crank arm 103 to which a con- 104 is pivot-ally connected at its upper end; The lower end of the connecting rod 104 is pivotally connected to one end o'f a lever 105 which is pivtally mounted intermediate its 'ends on the supporting frame .as indicated at 106. l 105 is provided with a roller 107 which engages the forked end 108 of a lever 109, which mounted intermediate its ends as indicated at 110. To the opposite end ofthe lever 109 lis connected an upwardly extending connecting rod 111, which ispivotall connected as indicated at 112 to a vertically slidable block 113 which is mounted so as to be capable of vertical sliding movement on the outer upwardly extending member 48. The block 13 is provided adjacent its upper end with oppositely facing rack bars 114-114 which mesh with pinions `115--115 secured to the outer ends of the pivots ofthe gates 58-58. It will now bev apparent that when a napkin' raises the detector linger 59 and thereby causes the sliding block to be lowered, and the cam means 89 causes the clutch mechanism to be engaged, the crank arm-103 will be rotated so as to cause the levers 105 and 109 to be oscillated, whereby the' block 113 Acam memb parts 92 and and. connected parts. block 65 moves upwardly,

to engage similar friction.

The outer end of the lever upward movement of willbe pulled downwardly through the connecting rod or link 111. Such downward movement of the block 113 will be effective to rotate the pinions 115-115 and the respective gate members so that a napkin supported thereby will be permitted to drop flatwise into the compartment'which is disposed thereun- 4 der.

Means for restoring the gates 5858 to horizontal or supporting position comprises a er 116 which is preferably formed as an integral part of the clutch collar 83 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The sliding block 65 is provided with an outwardly project-ing foot member 117 which is adapted to bfeengaged by the cam and whereby the sliding block is elevated against the tension o f the spring 66 as the cam member 116 rotates.` The active surface of the cam engages the foot member 117 during the last half of a revolution of the clutch collar 83 When the sliding the cam 90 carried by the finger 82 iseffective to force the clutch collar 83 to the right in Fig. 4 and thereby to disengage the clutch. The cam 116 carries a stoppin 118 which engages the upper end 119I of a stop lever 120 so that the cam will be held in 'a pre-determined position and so that the cam will always start its operation Vfrom the same position whereby proper timing of engagement between the active cam surface and the foot member 117 for raising the sliding block 65 is insured. The stop lever 120 is rotatablymounted on a rock shaft 121 and is fprovided with a vl-ug 122, to the outer end o which a link 123 is connected at one end, and which link is connected at its other end to an extension of the finger 82 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. K'When the block 65 moves downwardly as above described, the lever 120 is swung through thecounecting link 123 so that the upper end 119 of the lever is moved out of the way of the stop pin 118 so as to permit rotation of the clutch collar 82and cam member 116 carried thereby. On the block 65 the lever 120 will of course, be restored to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 where it will be effective to engage the stop pin 118 and thereby position the cam 116 in the said pre-determined position. l

It will be understood that when the sliding block:65 is elevated to the highest position which the cam 116 effects, the latch member will'be pulled to the right in Fig. 6 by the tension of the vspring so that the shoulder 7 3 of the latch member will be in position to engage the stop member 74 as ward movement of the block 65 is effective to restore the gate members 58 through reverse movement of the connecting rod 104, levers 105 and 109 and the link 111. It will also be noted that the of the napkins passes under and raises the detector member 59 whereby a napkin is deposited inone of the compartments of the receptacle.

In packaging napkins it is desirable to package a certain number, 'for instance, twelve in a carton, and accordingly I provide means for automatically moving the Vreceptacle so as to bring the emptycompartment into alignment with the conveyor, after twelve napkins have been deposited in the other compartment. This means comprises a star wheel or disk 124 having its periphery provided with a number of teeth corresponding to the number of napkins to be packaged in a single package, and this disk vis rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 125 carried by the supporting frame. The toothed disk 124 is adapted to be rotated tothe extent of the distance between the centers of adjacent teeth, or in other words, tion of ythejclutch member 92. The clutch member 92 is provided with a pin 126 projecting laterallytherefrom so as to engageone oi' the teeth ofthe disk during a final portion of 'the rotary movement of the said clutch member 92. The disk 124 is provided with a lug or pin 127 which in the presentinstance will engage the free end 128 of an alm 129 which is secured to the'rrock shaft 121 when the disk 124 has been moved twelve notches. l/Vhen the disk is moved the twelfth notch, the pin127 will'rock the arm 129 and shaft 121 so that another arm 130 also secured to the rock shaft 121 will be swung in clockwise direction in Fig. 6. To the outer end of the arm 130 is pivoted one end of a connectingrod 131, the other end of which is connected to one arm 132 of a bell crank 133 which is pivotally'mounted on the supporting frame.' A depending arm 134 of the bell crank is connected to an upwardly 'extending arm'135 of another bell crank 136 by means of a connecting rod 137. The bell crank 136 is pivotally mounted in the supporting frame and is provided with another` arm 138 which is provided at its freeend with a laterally projecting pin or stud 139. The pin 139 controls clutch mechanism which in turn controls the operation ,of the receptacle reciprocating mechanism, the compressor mechanism, and the plunger or ejecting mechanism.

The last mentioned clutch `mechanism is indicated generally chain 143, which chain engages a sprocket on the driven shaft 25 of the napkin making above described operation of the gate members-is effected each time one one notch for each revoluend of the nected as at 155 to a-l-bracket 156 secured to at 140 in Fig. 1 and isassociated with a shaft 141 which shaft is machine 20, as best shown in Fig. 1. A drum 144 having a relatively wide face 145 is secured-to the sprocket wheel 142 so as to continually rotate therewith, andan arm `146 is keyed to the shaft 141 so that rotation imparted to the arm 146 will be also imparted to the said shaft.

In the outer end of the arm 146 is rotatably mounted a short shaft 147 which projects at its ends from the opposite faces of the arm and to which projecting ends are secured le` vers148 and 149. As best shown in F ig. 15,v the lever 148 consists of a segment ot a disk, the periphery 150 of which is slight eccentric to the axis of the shaft 147. The arm 148 is so positioned with respect to the Ydrum 144 that it will tend to assume a vertically disposed position due to gravity and consequently, the eccentric surface 150 f the arm will be tightly jammed against the face 145 of the drum whereby the arm 146 and shaft 141 will be caused to rotate with the drum and sprocket 142.

`As show-n in dotted lines in Fig. 15, the arm 138 of the bell crank 136 is normally held in such position @at the pin 139 carried there- -'by .is effective to engage the arm 149 so as to -hold theeccentric surfaced segment 148 out ot' engagement with the face of the drum. lvhen therock shaft 121 is rocked in clockwise direction (Fig. 1), as above explained, and the connecting rods 131 and 137 correspondingly moved, it willbe seen that the bell crank 136 is rocked in a counter clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 15) so that the pin 139 is lowered so as to clear the arm 149 whereby the eccentric segment 148 is permitted to engage the drum as above explained. Suitable means may be provided for restoringthe bell crank 136, arm 129 and interposed parts to normal position. In the present instancel'have illustrated a spring 151 tensioned between the arm 135 of the bell crank 136 and a' portion of the frame 28 which spring, is ot` 'sufficient strength to restore the members, the 'movementvof the latter being limited by a stop 152 secured to the frame 28 and in position to'engage the arm 135 when in its normal position. A crank arm 153 is secured to the shaft 141 on the end remote from the sprocket 142 and to the free end of the arm 153 is pivotally connected one end of an adjustable connecting rod 154. The other connectino' rod is pivotally conthe under side of a` bar, preferably a T-rail indicated at 157. The rail 157 is slidably mounted bysuitable means indicated at 158 on the supporting frame and is adapted to be reciprocated as an incident to rotation of the shaft'141, through the above'described adjustable connecting rod 154 `and crank arm 153.

To the forward end ofthe T-rail 157 is secured a rack member 159 which rack meinber is adapted to engage a gear segment 160. On forward movement of the rail 157 and rack 159, the gear segment 16() is rotated in a clockwise carried by the said segment 160 1s pressed by the spring 162 into' engagement with a notch 163 in a collar 164 which is pinned to the shaft 165, and accordingly cam 166 havinga cam groove 167 which receives a roller 168 rotatably secured to the bottom of the receptacle 5.

The cam 166 is arranged so that one-half revolution thereof will be effective to move theI receptacle 52 a distance sufficient to move one of thev compartments of the receptacle out of alignment with the conveyor 22 and the other compartment into alignment with the said conveyor. On a succeeding half revolution of the cam 166, the receptacle is returned to itsfir'st position with the formerly aligned compartment out of alignment with the conveyor. For purposes which will presently appear, the travel of the rail 157 and rack 159y 's considerably greater than travel which is necessary for imparting onehalf revolution to the shaft 165 through the above described rack and segment action, and I have therefore provided means whereby 'the rack may leave the gear segment and thenlon return movement reengage the same. For this purpose I provide a spring actuated pawl 169 which is pivotally mounted as at 17 0 Vin the segment member160 (see Figs. 3, 5 and 13). The pawl 169 is actuated by the spring 171 so that its free end 17 2 is yieldingly hel in an outwardk position corresponding to a tooth in the segment 160.

Onforward movement of the rack bar 159 in excess of the amount required for turning the shaft .165 one-half revolution, the gear segment assumes 'a position such' as illustrated in Fig. 5 where a flat and untoothedl portion 173 of the rack bar slides over a flat .portion 174 of the gear segment and the free end 172 of the pawl 169 is pressed inwardly. On return movement of the bar 159, the free end 172 of the pawl 169 ter a notch 174 segment is caused to rotate in a reverse direction and the rack and segment teeth caused to properly mesh so as to be operative on the succeeding forward movement of the rail and rack bar. As clearly shown in Fig. 13 the collar 164 is provided with a pair of notches 163 at. diametrically opposite points so that the shaft will be rotated onehalf` revolution' in a forward direction each time the gear segment is so rotated one-haltl revolution. I also find it desirable to provide a stop member 175 on the gear segment which is adapted to engage a stop 176 carried by the frame for positively limiting forward rotation of the gear segment.

It will be apparent from the above descripdirection (Flg. 12.).\ A pawl 161 rotates the said shaft. `To the shaft 165 'is keyed. a rotary mounted on the will be caused to enin the rack bar whereby the incassa tion that the initial forward movement of the T-rail 157 is/efiective to shift the receptacle 52 so as to move ,the filled ,compartment thereof out of alignment with the conveyor, thereby bringing an empty compartment into alignment withthe said conveyor. Filling of the empty compartment therefore takes place, since the conveyor driven-and continuously feeds the napkins. After the filled compartment has been moved out of alignment with the conveyor, itis desired to compressthe napkins 1n this compartment and after they arecompressed to eject the same therefrom and preferably, into a carton. Compressing mechanism is best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 9, iand the mecha- 22 is continuously nism for operating the compressing mechanism is best shown 1n F1gs.f1, 3, 5 and 14.

The compressing mechanism comprises a compressor member having a pair of heads 180--180 which are respectively slidably the corresponding'pairs of up-v right guide posts 50.-50 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. rPhe heads 180 -180 are adaptedto be reciprocated in a vertical directionsimultaneously, one only of the heads being effective. As shown in Fig. 3, the receptacle 52 is moved tothe left so that the compartment 54 is in alignment with the conveyor and the Vcompartment 53 is disposed in alignment with the left-hand compressor head 180. When the said left-hand compressor head 180 is moved downwardly, it will enter the compartment 53, and compress the napkins which have previously been deposited therein. The

d opposite side walls of the receptacle, being the outer walls of the respective compartments, are slottedV 'as indica-ted at 181-181 to permit the yrespective heads to enter the respective compartments (Fig. 9).

The mechanism for actuating the compressor heads comprises a rock shaft 182 which is pivotally mounted in the side frames of the machine and to which shaft are secured levers 183-183 To the outer ends of the levers 183 are pivotally. connected links 184-184 as indicated at 185 and these links are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the respective compressor heads 180 as indicated 186-186. The rock shaft 182 is rocked as an incident to forward movement of the T-rail 157 and for this purpose the T- rail is provided with a roller 187 pivotally secured thereto and adapted to engage the end 188 of a lever 189 which is secured to the outer end of the said rock shaft 182.

From an inspection of Fig. 1 'it will be noted that the rail 157 will travel a considerable distance before the roller,187 engages the end 188 of the lever 189, during which time the hereinbefore described mechanism is actuated for reciprocating the-receptacle. During such preliminary movement, the lever 189 is prevented from following the rail by means of a roller 190 secured to the gage the forked end lgioaeeeA i tally extending Hange 191 secured to the T- rail. The said horizontal 'flange 191 is pronotch 192 in the vicinity of the vided Witha roller 187 so that when the lever 189 is moved, the roll 190 will bepermitted 4to project beyond the flange 191 and on continued movement of the rail 157 the roller 187 leaves the end 188 of the lever 189, this lever then being maintained in t-he position indicated in Fig. 5 by engagement of the said roller 190 with the rearward portion of the horizontal flange 191. It will be seen by an inspection ot Fig. 5 that when the lever 189 has been L moved from the position indicated in Fig.v 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 5, the compressor heads 180-180 will have been moved downwardly to the position. indicated in Figs. .5a-nd 9 where-they are maintained during the succeediugoperation of ejecting the napkins in compressedcondition from the compartments.

For ejecting the napkins from the compartments after-they are compressed, I provide plunger mechanism which includes 'a pair of plunger heads 195`195 mounted ,on rods 196/-196 Which are slidably mounted 1n suitable brackets 197 secured tQ the supporting frame. The plunger heads 195 are normally disposed to the rear of the receptacle 52 as clearly shown in Fig.. 1, and the lower portion of the front and rear Walls of the -respective compartments are apertured to'permit the plunger to pass therethrough as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 5.

The plunger mechanism is actuated by further continued movement of the T-rail- 157 after the compressingioperation is completed as above described. For this purpose I provide a roller 198 which is pivotally mounted on the rail 157 and adapted to enis secured to a shaft 201, which shaft is rotatably mounted on the frame as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 5. Another lever 202 is secured to theshaft 201 and is connected by means -of a connecting rod 203 to a lever 204 which is secured to a rock shaft 205 rotatably mounted in the supporting frame. The lever 204 extendsupwardly beyond the point of connection 206 of the connecting rod 203 therewith, and at its upper end is pivotally connected as at 207 to a link 208 which at its ot er end ispivotallv connected to a cross head 209, the latter beingsecured to the slidably mounted rods 196-196 as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 14.

The roller 198 is so positioned on the rail 157 that the compressing mechanism has been actuarni 200, the shaft 201 is rocked .in a-clockwise direction and the lever 204 is also moved through the connecting rod 203, the plunger -is approaching its 199 of'a lever 200, which rods196-196 beingaccordingly moved forwardly throughthe agency'of the link and cross head connection 208 and 209.

.As shown in Fig. 5, the plunger mechanism limit :of forward movement, the stack of napkins indicated at S being almost entirely ejected from the receptacle compartment. On return movement of the rail 157, the rolls 198 and 187 will of course, be effective to actuate the respective levers in the reverse direction and in inverse order. i

For the purpose of positively limiting rearward movement of the plu nger rods 19(5"196, I provide a stop arm 210 on the rock shaft 205 outer end of the stop arm is provided face 212 of the foot portion of the supporting frame member 40. I also find it desirable to providea dash-pot mechanism indicated at 213 vconnected to `the rock sha''t 205, and a counter-Weight 214 connected to the rock shaft 182 for the purpose of steadying the operation of the mechanism. A counterweight 2 15 is also preferably provided 141 t6 counter balance the weight of the arm 153 and ingeneral, to steady the operation ofthe mechanism connected thereto.

I prefer to provide'means for holding a carton in position to receivethe napkins as they are discharged from the respective compartments of the receptacle, and'for this purpose I provide mechanism suchJ as indicated ln Figs. 17 and 18. This mechanism comprises a table 220 which is supported by suitable means such as a bracket 221 secured to the supporting frame of the packaging machine. This table is divided into two sections 222-and. 223 which are spaced and disposed in position corresponding to the positions of the filled' .compartments of the receptacle which areout of alignment with the feeding conveyor 22. On each of the 222 and 223 I mount a carton receptacle 224, which eonsistsof a box-like structure having one end and one side open. A paper carton such as indicated at 225 may be inserted into 224 through the open side and open end with the flaps of the carton `projecting beyond the open end of the receptacle as clearly shown in the said Figs. 17 and 18. The receptacles 224 are hingedly connect- `ed to the respective table portions by means of links 224 under the control of which links the receptacles are adapted to be swung from a vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 18, to horizontal position, as indicated in yfull lines in the said figure. U-shaped members 226 are pivotally connected at their ends to the respective table sections, as will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, and these U-shaped members are adapted to be swung about their pivots so that the portions 227 will engage'the ends 228.0f the table sections' to force the reof the receptacles and be effective i a packaging machine. To facilitate manipulation of the U- haped members 226, hand members 229 are provided.

For' the purpos of the napkins into the carton, I provide oppositely facing-spring controlled flap-members 229 and 230 which are pivotally mountedrespectively on the end of the packaging machine.' The fiap members are yieldingly urged inwardly by suitable spring mechanism, as indicated in Figs-17 and 18, so that the iaps of the carton will pass over the outside thereof, and when the napkins are -discharged from the respective compartments, they will be effective to force the flaps outwardly so interfere with their entrance into the carton and the insertion `thereof into the cartonis smoothly accomplished.y When the carton has been filled, as indicated in F ig. 18, the

' member 226 is swung on its pivots to the position indicated at '231 in Fig. 17, and the receptacle 224 is then swung lto the dotted' line position thereof, indicated in Fig. 18. The filled carton of napkins may then be readily removed'from the receptacle and the flaps of the cartonA folded and secured, to seal the carton. A

I have thus provided mechanism for packaging relatively soft and flat articles without manually handling the articles and which mechanism is 4capable ofY relatively ra id operation.

am awarethatmany changes in the and construction of vparts as well las in the arrangement thereof may be made without departing the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the latter being `construed as broadly as possible, con'- sistent with the state of the'v art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of means for automatically stacking a plurality of the napkins, means a wrapper. Y

V2. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of a receptacle, means for feedng the napkins one by'one to so as to stack the napkins therein, meansy for compressing the stack, and means from said receptacle.

3. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of means for automatically stacking a plurality of the napkins, means for compressing the stack an means for ejecting the compressed stack from the machine preparatory to wrapping thereof.

4. In a machine for packaging sanitary A compressing the stack after a e of insuring the entrance the napkins, as

that the carton yiaps will not napkins,

one by one,

form

from the spirit of the invention,-

for compressing` the stack and means for inserting the compressed st-ack into' for ejecting the compressed stack .ing means, means 'for receivin,D

napkins, the combination of means for feeding the nap ins successively one by one, means for receiving andstacking the napkins as they are fed, and means'for automatically predetermined number of the napkins have 'been stacked.

5. Ina machine for packaging sanitary napkins, thev'combination of means for continuously feeding the napkins successively one by one, means for receiving and stacking they are fed, means for compressing the stack, means controlled by the napkins for actuating the compressing means after a predetermined number thereof have been stacked, and means for ejecting the compressed stack from saidv stacking means.

6. In a mac the combination of means for continuously feeding the 'napkins successively means for receiving and stacking the napkins as they are fed, means for compressing the stack, means controlled by the napkins for actuating the compressing means after a predetermined number thereof have been stacked, and means for inserting the compressed stack into a wrapper.

7. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of a receptacle, means for depositing a plurality ofthe napkins in said receptacle so as'to form a stack, means forlcompressing the stack, means for propelling the compressed stack from said receptacle, and means for positioning a wrapper for receiving said stack as it is propelled from .thereceptacle 8. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the'- combination of means for continuously feeding the napkins successively one by one, means for receiving and stacking the napkins as they are fed, means for automatically compressing the stack, after a predetermined number of the` napkins been stacked, and means for continuing the stacking operation as to the succeeding napkins during said compressing operation.

9. 'lIn a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of means for feeding the napkins successively one Iby one, stacking means, means for receiving the napkins from said feeding means and operative to deposit the same in said stacking means, means for compressing the stack', ,and means for automatically actuating the compressing means after a predetermined number of the napkins are stacked.

10, In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of means for feeding the napkins successively one by one', stackthe napkins d from said feeding means andl operative to deposit the same in said stacking means, means for compressing the'stack, means for automatically actuating the compressing means after a predetermined number of the ine for packaging sanitary have lll)

as to stack the articles therein, means forcompressing the stack, and means for propelling the compressed stack from said receptacle.

12. In a machine for packaging relatively sott and compressible articles, the combination of a receptacle having a pair of like compartments, means for feeding a predetermined number of articles one by one into one of said compartments, means forautomatically moving said receptacle so as to bring an empty compartment into alignment with said feeding means after the other compartment has received the said predetermined number of the articles, means for compressing the articles in the filled compartment, and means for ejecting the compressed articles therefrom while the empty compartment is being lled, and said means for automatically moving said receptacle being operative to automatically return the'irst filled compartment into alignment With said feeding means after said predetermined number of articles have been fed to said empty compartment and after the articles have been ejected from said first 'filled compartment.

13. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of a receptacle, means for feeding the napkins successively one by one flatwise into sai receptacle so as to stack the napkins face to face, means Yfor compressing the stack, and means for ejecting the compressed stack from the receptacle.

14. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination of a receptacle, means for feeding the napkins successively one by one into said receptacle so as to stack the napkins, guide means for aligning the napkins with said receptacle as they are fed tliereinto, means incorporated in said guide means for causing the napkins to be deposited ilatwise iii the receptacle, means for compressing the stack, and means for ejecting the compressed stack from the receptacle.

15. In a machine for packaging sanitary napkins, the combination o f ya receptacle, means for feeding the napkins successively one by one into said receptacle so as to :stack the napkins, and means for causing the napkins to drop liatwise in the receptacle into stacked position. y

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a receptacle, a conveyor for carrying articles to be packaged to sai receptacle and operative to discharge such articles into said receptacle, compressing means controlled by the articles for compressing tlie articles in said receptacle and operable after a predetermined number thereof are discharged thereinto, and means for ejecting the compressed articles from said receptacle.

In a machine for packaging relatively soft and compressible articles, the combination of a continuously driven conveyor for continuously feeding the articles, a receptacle for receiving the articles from said conveyor, means for causing the articles to enter` the receptacle in a flatwise position, a compressor for compressing the articles in said receptacle, means controlled by the articles vfor automatically actuating the compressor after a predetermined number of the articles have been ldeposited in the receptacle, means for ejecting the compressed articles from the receptacle, and means for positioning a carton for receiving the articles as they are ejected.

18. In a machine of the cla-ss described, the combination of a continuously driven conveyor for propelling articles to be packaged, a receptacle for receiving the articles from said conveyor, means for compressing the ar` ticles in said receptacle after a predetermined number thereof have been deposited therein, means for effecting operation of said com,- pressor after said predetermined number are Vsogdeposited, said last mentioned means comprising a detector member disposed over said conveyor for engaging eachof the articles propelled by the conveyor as the article passes thereunder, and means .actuated by movement of said detector finger for actuating said coinpressor operating means.

1 9..In a machine of the class described, the com mation of a continuously driven conveyor for propelling articles to be packaged, a receptacle said conveyor, means for compressing the articles in said receptacle after a predetermined number thereof have been deposited therein, means for effecting operation of said compressor after said predetermined number are so deposited, said last mentionedmeans comprising a detector member disposed over said conveyor forengaging each of the articles propelled by the conveyor as the article passes thereunder, a rotatably mounted Wheel having a plurality of teeth corresponding in number to the number of articles desired in each package, means actuated by movement of said detector member each time one of the articles engages the same for turning said wheel the distance of one tooth, a projection on said wheel, alid means engaged by said projection once in each revolution thereof for actuating said compressor operating' means.

20. In a packaging machine of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a continuously operated conveyor for feeding articles to be packaged, a receptacle having a pair of compartments and mounted for receiving the articles from 

